*How do you reach a business decision?*What are the risks involved in any course of action or inaction?*How do you analyse these risks to ensure the success of a project or to minimise the impact of possible failure?*How effective can risk assessment, foresight and planning be?Upside Downside is a detailed guide to effective risk analysis and reduction, which will show you how to avoid being either a reckless gambler or an ineffectual fence-sitter. It will enable you to develop the skills of successful risk taking, the ability to analyse accurately the chances of success or failure of a project, and the ability to improve the chances of success while at the same time reducing the impact of possible failure. Written in an approachable style with useful examples of management in areas such as mergers and takeovers, product development, innovation and recruitment, Upside Downside will help all managers, whatever field, to develop one of the most essential business skills of all.